Power rail support and shield

ABSTRACT

A support for supporting a power rail and a rail shield consisting of a generally C-shaped unitary member having a base portion adapted for securing said member to a railway crosstie or the like and means for detachably securing a generally L-shaped rail shield to the inner side of the vertical leg and upper horizontal arm of the C-shape.

United States Patent 908,136 12/1908 Randolph Johan L. Harmsen 68llawkridge Avenue, Markham, Ontario, Canada Apr. 1, 1969 Apr. 20, 1971Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented POWER RAIL SUPPORT AND SHIELD 4Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 191/32 Int. Cl. 860m l/30 Fieldofsearch 191/30- References Cited9 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,048,367 7/1936 Banks 191/32 2,502,756 4/1950Schmid 191/32 FOREIGN PATENTS 368,629 2/1939 ltaly 191/30 PrimaryExaminer-Arthur L. LaPoint Assistant Examiner-Richard A. BertschAttorneys-Frank l. Piper and Arne l. Fors ABSTRACT: A support forsupporting a power rail and a rail shield consisting of a generallyC-shaped unitary member having a base portion adapted for securing saidmember to a railway crosstie or the like and means for detachablysecuring a generally L-shaped rail shield to the inner side of thevertical leg and upper horizontal arm of the C-shape.

PATENTEDAFRZOIQYI 35754576 Inventor JOHAN L. HARMSEN ll newts nan.surrott'r Ann srustn This invention relates to support members for poweror third rails and means for shielding such rails and is particularlydirected to support members having simple means by which protectiveshields may be secured thereto.

it is becoming increasingly common to employ fiberglass reinforcedpolyester or similar moldable materials for insulating support membersof third rails used to supply electric power for rapid transit systems.The line voltage in the power rail is frequently in the order of 600volts or higher and therefore such rails must be adequately shielded toreduce the hazard of anyone accidentally touching the rail. ln addition,it is desireable to shield the rail as much, as possible from weatherconditions (rain. snow and freezing rain).

conventionally, power rails are shielded by lengths of timber which aresecured to the top and side of each support member by bolts. Projectingbolt heads are undesirable both from the stand point aesthetics and thestand point of safety since such heads frequently constitute a dangerousobstruction. in addition bolts may become loose and eventually fall ontothe power rail.

It is accordingly an object to provide a support member having a grooveand recess adapted to receive the ends of protective shields andremovably secure the protective shields thereto without the necessity ofbolts or screws.

it is another object to provide a support member and shield which may beconveniently formed of reinforced polyester or similar moldablematerials and which may be quickly and easily assembled with a minimumof effort.

it is another object to provide a shield which may be connected to asupport member by means of a single pin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support member,shield combination having no projections in the path of the collectorshoe which constitute a hazard.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a support memberfor supporting a power rail and a rail shield and adapted to be securedto a railway crosstie, or the like base structure, the member includinga generally C-shaped web having spaced apart first and second limbs,each limb having a free end and being interconnected at the opposite endby an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion extending betweenopposed surfaces of the first and second limbs, the second limb having aface adapted to contact a railway crosstie or other base structure andfurther having a power rail receiving element, the intermediate portionhaving a groove, the longitudinal axis of which is disposed normal tothe plane of the web, the second limb having an aperture formed inproximity to the free end thereof for receipt of a pm.

A fuller understanding may be had by referring to the followingdescription and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FlG. ii is a side elevation of the support member and shield accordingto the invention shown in conjunction with a power rail and a powertakeoff arm, HG. 11 being taken on line 1-1 of PEG. 2;

lFllG. 2 is an end elevation of the support member and rail shield; and

MG. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the rail shieldis attached to the support member.

like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof the drawing.

with power rail M.

Member lib includes a web indicated generally l6 having a pair ofopposed limbs lid and 2t) interconnected by intermediate portion 22. A p2d is formed on the outer side of limb lid. As shown plate 2d commencesbeyond the free end of limb lib, extends along the length of the limband terminates at outer flange 26. Plate 24 is in a plane normal to theplane containing web 16. A plurality of apertures 26 are formed in plate24 foradmission of bolts 30 (HO. 3) which extend upwardly from crosstie12 or other base structure such as a concrete floor in a subway tunnel.Plate 24 is secured to the crosstie or like base structure by tighteningof nuts 32 into contact with the upper surface of plate 24.

A pedestal 34 (FIG. 3) is formed on the side of limb l8 opposite toplate 24. Pedestal 34 includes a base 36 and a stand 3%, the stand beingdisposed normal to base 36 and in a plane parallel to the planecontaining plate 24. Stand 38 is adapted to serve as a seat forinsulator cap Ml. insulator cap 40 has a recess i2 formed in its lowersurface which is adapted to receive stand Elli therein and a groove 44formed in its upper surface for receipt of conductor rail 14. Anyconvenient means may be employed to interconnect rail 14, insulator cap40 and stand 38.

The intermediate portion 22 of web 16 extends from limb lb and flaresoutwards from the plane containing the web to form a support block 46.As shown, support block 46 is positioned approximately midway betweenlimbs 18 and 20. Block 46 is defined in part by surface 4% whichin turndefines an element of the inner surface 50 of intermediate portion 22.The inner surface 50 of portion 22 extends between opposed surfaces 52and 5d of limbs lb and 20 respectively. A groove 56 is formed in thesurface of support block 46 opposed to surface M, which groove has alongitudinal axis parallel to the corresponding axis of power rail 14and disposed at right angles to the plane containing web 16.

An inner flange 58 extends laterally from the plane containing web 16.Flange 58 commences at support block 46 and extends along the lengths ofintermediate portion 22 and limb 20. As shown surfaces 50 and 54 ofintermediate portion 22 and limb 20 respectively are defined in part byflange 58.

A circular aperture 59 is formed in web 16 in proximity to the free endof limb 20. Aperture 59 is positioned approximately midway betweendiverging limbs of generally V-shaped projection 60. As shown one limbof projection 60 is defined by a portion of flange 58, that portiontapering toward the plane containing web l6 and terminatingapproximately midway between the inner and outer surfaces of limb 20.The other limb of projection 64 is defined by outer flange 26 whichcommences at the free end of limb 20 and extends obliquely to surface54. As seen flange 26 extends beyond projection 66 along limb 20,intermediate portion 22 and tenninates at plate 2d, flange 26 therebydefining in part the outer surface of web 116.

Shield 62 has an L-shaped portion 64 (FIG. 1) the crosssectionalconfiguration of which corresponds generally to that 'of theconfiguration of flange 5b and a V-shaped portion 66,

the cross-sectional configuration of which corresponds generally to theshape of projection 69. Shield 62 terminates at one side at lateralsurface 6% (H6. 3) and at the ends at terminal surfaces 70 and 72. Edge7d is the dividing line between surfaces 6% and 70. Thus when shield 62is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, edge "id is contained withingroove 56 and the surface of the shield contacts flange 5%. V- shapedportion 66 is positioned between aperture 59 and projection 60. When sopositioned, a pin 76 may be passed through aperture 59 to secure shield62 to limb 20.

Preferably shield 62 will only assume the position illustrated in H6. 1,when upward pressure is applied to move the V- shaped portion intocontact with projection 60. When the lower portion of the shield isseated in groove 56, the upper portion of the shield preferably must berotated approximately 10 in order to bring the V-shaped portion 66 intocontact with projection 64).

Preferably support member 10 and shield 62 are formed from fiberglassreinforced polyester or similar moldable material. Such material has ahigh physical strength, satisfactory insulating characteristics and isrelatively modest of cost. The material can be readily molded to adesired shape and may be significantly thinner than wood havingcomparable strength. A molded section of reinforced polyester serves thesame function as the conventional rail shield composed of two separatewooden boards.

Pin 76 may have a metallic core and a rubber coating. Where however asmaller coefiicient of friction is required between the pin and theshield as it expands and contracts, the pin may be capped with plastic.ln the alternative, the pin may be formed of steel with a groovedsection at its center which section contacts the edges of the webdefining the aperture thereby ensuring that the pin remains properlypositioned.

In use, support members it) are fastened to railway crossties or thelike base structure and so positioned that the distance between adjacentmembers is slightly greater than the length of each shield. Edge 74 andthe corresponding edge at the other end of shield 62 are positionedwithin grooves 56 of a pair of adjacent members and upward pressure isapplied to the V-shaped portion of shield 62 to move the shield intocontact with both projections 60 of adjacent members. Pin 76 is thenpushed into aperture 59 to secure shield 62 therein. When shield 62 isin such a position, its surfaces at V-shaped portion 66 will contactfacing walls of projection 60. lt will be evident that a continuous lineof shields may be positioned lengthwise along the length of a railwaytrack. The shields will be supported by means of a plurality of members10 and each shield will be positioned between and supported at each endby a support member each support member supporting the ends of twoshields.

it will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention as described hereinabovewithout departing from the scope and purview of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A support member for supporting a power rail and a rail shield andbeing adapted to be secured to a railway crosstie or the like basestructure, the member including a web having a pair of spaced-apartfirst and second limbs each having a free end and interconnected at theopposite end by an intermediate portion, the intermediate portionextending between opposed surfaces of the first and second limbs, thefirst limb having a face adapted to contact the railway crosstie or thelike base structure and further having a power rail receiving element,the intermediate portion having an exterior groove, the longitudinalaxis of which is disposed normal to the plane of the web, the secondlimb having an aperture formed in proximity to the free end thereof andfurther having an outwardly extending flange spaced apart from saidaperture and extending about at least a portion of said aperture, saidaperture adapted to receive a pin, the groove in said intermediateportion together with the space between the outwardly extending flangeand the pin when received in said aperture both adapted to accommodateportions of said rail shield, and cooperating to removably secure therail shield to the support member.

2. A support member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said web has an innerflange disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the web said innerflange commencing at the groove and terminating in proximity to theaperture and forming an elongated surface adapted to contact andstabilize the rail shield when accommodated in said groove and space.

3. A support member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said aperture extendsgenerally parallel to said groove and said outwardly extending flange isformed in part by a portion of the inner flange and in part by an outerflange disposed on the side of the second limb opposite the inner flangeand commencing at the free end of the second limb, said outwardlyextending flange being V in shape.

4. In combination, a support member, a shield and a pin, the supportmember being adapted to be secured to a railway crosstie or other basestructure and including a generally C- shaped web having a pair ofspaced-apart first and second limbs, each having a free end andinterconnected at the opposite end by an intermediate portion, theintermediate portion having a surface in a plane normal to the gllane ofthe web and extending between opposed surfaces of e first and secondlimbs, the first limb having a face adapted to contact the rail tie andfurther having a power rail receiving element, the intermediate portionhaving a groove, the longitudinal axis of which being disposed normal tothe plane of the web, the second limb having an aperture formed inproximity to the free end thereof for receipt of the pin, the shieldcommencing at a first surface extending in a generally L-shaped andterminating in a V-shaped portion, the shield being so adapted that whenthe pin is positioned within the aperture, the first surface ispositioned within the groove, the L-shaped portion contacts the innerflange and the V-shaped portion is positioned between the V-shapedprojection and the pin.

1. A support member for supporting a power rail and a rail shield andbeing adapted to be secured to a railway crosstie or the like basestructure, the member including a web having a pair of spaced-apartfirst and second limbs each having a free end and interconnected at theopposite end by an intermediate portion, the intermediate portionextending between opposed surfaces of the first and second limbs, thefirst limb having a face adapted to contact the railway crosstie or thelike base structure and further having a power rail receiving element,the intermediate portion having an exterior groove, the longitudinalaxis of which is disposed normal to the plane of the web, the secondlimb having an aperture formed in proximity to the free end thereof andfurther having an outwardly extending flange spaced apart from saidaperture and extending about at least a portion of said aperture, saidaperture adapted to receive a pin, the groove in said intermediateportion together with the space between the outwardly extending flangeand the pin when received in said aperture both adapted to accommodaTeportions of said rail shield, and cooperating to removably secure therail shield to the support member.
 2. A support member as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said web has an inner flange disposed in a plane normalto the plane of the web said inner flange commencing at the groove andterminating in proximity to the aperture and forming an elongatedsurface adapted to contact and stabilize the rail shield whenaccommodated in said groove and space.
 3. A support member as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said aperture extends generally parallel to said grooveand said outwardly extending flange is formed in part by a portion ofthe inner flange and in part by an outer flange disposed on the side ofthe second limb opposite the inner flange and commencing at the free endof the second limb, said outwardly extending flange being V in shape. 4.In combination, a support member, a shield and a pin, the support memberbeing adapted to be secured to a railway crosstie or other basestructure and including a generally C-shaped web having a pair ofspaced-apart first and second limbs, each having a free end andinterconnected at the opposite end by an intermediate portion, theintermediate portion having a surface in a plane normal to the plane ofthe web and extending between opposed surfaces of the first and secondlimbs, the first limb having a face adapted to contact the rail tie andfurther having a power rail receiving element, the intermediate portionhaving a groove, the longitudinal axis of which being disposed normal tothe plane of the web, the second limb having an aperture formed inproximity to the free end thereof for receipt of the pin, the shieldcommencing at a first surface extending in a generally L-shaped andterminating in a V-shaped portion, the shield being so adapted that whenthe pin is positioned within the aperture, the first surface ispositioned within the groove, the L-shaped portion contacts the innerflange and the V-shaped portion is positioned between the V-shapedprojection and the pin.